I was looking forward to this movie before it came out, as much for the presence of the director (David Twohy) as its big name actor (Vin Diesel, returning as "Riddick"). I liked the setting - a future universe with humanity scattered across a thousand worlds, each world only loosely associated or connected with the others. In such a future, there seems to be no "Federation" or "Republic" to help the worlds of humanity act as a united front. So when a fascist threat such as the Necromongers arises and begin conquering planet after planet, the remaining worlds can only listen for rumors of distant disaster and genocide and wait for their turn to fall, one by one.
Twohy's future universe is a much colder and meaner place than the beloved worlds of 'Star Wars' or "Star Trek'. Money and commerce rule over all, mercenaries and prison planets are a vital part of the social fabric of human society, and if one nation or world disappears, dies, or is destroyed, there is no one to protest or avenge it.
In such a world, a character such as Riddick makes sense.
TCOR is an all out attempt to create an immersive future universe, with enormous amounts of money and effort set on background CGI, set design, costume design, props and weapons. Seriously, I haven't seen that much money on the screen this side of George Lucas. The results may not be to everyone's taste - it's as if the cover artists for the magazine "Metal Hurlant" wanted H.R. Giger's baby and sublimated it with an obsession for Roman and Spartan battle masks and leather and spikes. I liked the designs and the careful depiction of future tech (field distortion effects for weapons and thrusters, cold sleep hibernation,ion trails, humans turned into cybernetic blood hounds, etc) but even I found it oppressive and irritating at some points. Other viewers might hate it outright.
The screenplay is a hyperkinetic mess, but is also a meth addict's dream come true - the story bounces back and forth, all over the universe, and features much brutality and gruesome macho horse manure. Some of it just doesn't make much sense (for instance, when Riddick has the pursuing merc boss at his mercy, why doesn't he just kill him, instead of letting him live to pursue him again? After all, Riddick just killed everyone else on the merc crew!) Young men of a certain age will probably find it irresistible, but it doesn't have a lot of heart to it.
As for Diesel's worth as an actor? Well, he is what he is. I like him, some people can't stand him, others think he's good but not nearly as good as he pretends. I believe if you go into this with an open mind (not thinking about the critical backlash from "XXX" or "Fast and the Furious") and give him (and the character) a chance, you'll probably enjoy his performance here. He's a lug, and he spends a little too much time posing and showing off his deltoids, but he can carry it off.
Hell, if I had arms like that, I'd cut the sleeves off my sports coats to show them off, so I can't really blame him too much.
The supporting cast is strong. Colm Feore is always a pleasure to watch, even when he's chewing the scenery. David Keith is in the first 1/3 of the movie in the OTHER returning role from "Pitch Black" (I don't count "Kyra", because she's played by a different,older actress), and he is his usual splendid self as well.
Can't recommend this movie unreservedly - you may hate the way this future universe looks, and you may hate Diesel as a furry voiced misanthrope. But there is plenty here to like, especially if you like visions of the future by creators like Jack Vance, Alfred Bester or Cordwainer Smith, rather than Isaac Asimov or Theodore Sturgeon.
Twohy's future universe is a much colder and meaner place than the beloved worlds of 'Star Wars' or "Star Trek'. Money and commerce rule over all, mercenaries and prison planets are a vital part of the social fabric of human society, and if one nation or world disappears, dies, or is destroyed, there is no one to protest or avenge it.
In such a world, a character such as Riddick makes sense.
TCOR is an all out attempt to create an immersive future universe, with enormous amounts of money and effort set on background CGI, set design, costume design, props and weapons. Seriously, I haven't seen that much money on the screen this side of George Lucas. The results may not be to everyone's taste - it's as if the cover artists for the magazine "Metal Hurlant" wanted H.R. Giger's baby and sublimated it with an obsession for Roman and Spartan battle masks and leather and spikes. I liked the designs and the careful depiction of future tech (field distortion effects for weapons and thrusters, cold sleep hibernation,ion trails, humans turned into cybernetic blood hounds, etc) but even I found it oppressive and irritating at some points. Other viewers might hate it outright.
The screenplay is a hyperkinetic mess, but is also a meth addict's dream come true - the story bounces back and forth, all over the universe, and features much brutality and gruesome macho horse manure. Some of it just doesn't make much sense (for instance, when Riddick has the pursuing merc boss at his mercy, why doesn't he just kill him, instead of letting him live to pursue him again? After all, Riddick just killed everyone else on the merc crew!) Young men of a certain age will probably find it irresistible, but it doesn't have a lot of heart to it.
As for Diesel's worth as an actor? Well, he is what he is. I like him, some people can't stand him, others think he's good but not nearly as good as he pretends. I believe if you go into this with an open mind (not thinking about the critical backlash from "XXX" or "Fast and the Furious") and give him (and the character) a chance, you'll probably enjoy his performance here. He's a lug, and he spends a little too much time posing and showing off his deltoids, but he can carry it off.
Hell, if I had arms like that, I'd cut the sleeves off my sports coats to show them off, so I can't really blame him too much.
The supporting cast is strong. Colm Feore is always a pleasure to watch, even when he's chewing the scenery. David Keith is in the first 1/3 of the movie in the OTHER returning role from "Pitch Black" (I don't count "Kyra", because she's played by a different,older actress), and he is his usual splendid self as well.
Can't recommend this movie unreservedly - you may hate the way this future universe looks, and you may hate Diesel as a furry voiced misanthrope. But there is plenty here to like, especially if you like visions of the future by creators like Jack Vance, Alfred Bester or Cordwainer Smith, rather than Isaac Asimov or Theodore Sturgeon.